. >> reporter: in nearly 10 years of war in afghanistan and in iraq, more than 6100 u.s. service men and women lost their lives. multiply that countless times by the loved ones they leave behind. now a love story lending two of those families rising from the ashes of heartbreaking sadness. beneath the towering air force memorial overlooking the nation's capitol, on board the bus, appears a white stretch limo and in it, two families discard by war. >> chris picked the 4th. he tells me i'm his 4th of july. he picked the 4th and the location. >> i'm charming that way. >> yes, he is. >> reporter: it's the wedding of air force master sergeant chris and his bride danielle. in attendance, her two and his three which were. this -- and three children. >> it's not just about danielle and i coming together, but two families coming together. we have been through amazing tragedy. >> reporter: in danielle's bouquet of flowers, two photographs of spouses they lost in war. >> this is another way for me to have them with me and be a part of the day. >> reporter: air force technical sergea